BIOGRAPHIES
** Source:
1798
History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men.
Publ. Philadelphia: Williams Brothers
1878.
< CLICK HERE to RETURN
to 1878 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to RETURN to
LIST of BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
William Rice |
Painesville Twp. -
WILLIAM RICE was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer
county, New York, June 24, 1796. He was the seventh in a family of
ten, the children of William and Tabitha (Budlong) Rice.
His education was obtained during the winter months at the common
schools in his native state. When nineteen he went to West
Bloomfield, Ontario county, and engaged at work there with an elder
brother, who was a manufacturer of fanning-mills. He went to work
with such energy, and showed such a fitness for the business, that his
brother sent him, the 1st of March following, to Fredonia, Chautauqua
county, to take charge of his shops there. We next find him in
Erie, Pennsylvania, whither he was sent by his brother, who was
constantly extending his field of operations, to establish the business
at that point. He subsequently returned to New York, where he
remained until the expiration of his term of service with his brother,
when he evinced a determination to strike out for himself. He
accordingly engaged with a passing emigrant family, bound for the
Reserve, for the transportation of his tools, while he set out on foot.
Arriving in Madison (then), Geauga County, he immediately commenced the
business he had so thoroughly mastered. He continued there about
two years, meantime establishing his business at other points. He
then, in the spring of 1818, removed to Youngstown, Mahoning county
(then Trumbull). He prosecuted his business there, with branch
shops at other points in the State, with remarkable success for a period
of thirty-five years. He invested in surplus of income which his
business yielded him in real estate in the vicinity of Youngstown.
He resided for a time in Coitsville, and while there received the
appointment of postmaster, - the first in the township. After his
return to Youngstown, being impressed with the future growth and
prosperity of the place, he invested to some extent in land within its
corporate limits, which purchased subsequently became very valuable.
Apr. 1, 1819, he was married to Christiana Potter, daughter of
William and Catherine (Freeman) Potter, originally from New Jersey,
then of Youngstown. She was born Oct. 13, 1798. From this
marriage were born the following named children, William Freeman,
Feb. 8, 1820, who was killed by a runaway team, in the summer of 1845,
while residing in Ravenna, Portage county; Lucy, born May 30,
1825, married Edwin Beardsley (deceased), and at present resides
with her parents; Laura, born Dec. 25, 1832, became the wife of
Lorenzo Lane, and is now a resident of Youngtown; Cornelia,
Livingston county, New York.
During his residence in Youngstown, at the earnest
entreaty of some of the more prominent advocates of temperance there,
Mr. Rice became a candidate for mayor on that issue, and was
elected. He served but one term. His private business
demanded his undivided attention, and he declined a re-election.
During his incumbency of the office of law against liquor-sellers was
vigorously enforced in all practicable cases.
He, with his wife, united with the First Presbyterian
church of Youngstown in the year 1832, which connection was severed only
by removal from the township in 1871. He was an elder in this
church for over thirty years, and was efficient in the erection of this
church edifice, and aided liberally in the building of others.
Politically, he was formerly a Whig, with strong
anti-slavery sentiments, and on the formation of the Republican party
became a member of it, and is to-day a firm believer in its principle.
He was intimately acquainted with Joshua R. Giddings, for whom
political principles and his fearless advocacy of them he had the
greatest respect and admiration. His judgment, however, would not
allow him to follow Giddings into the Free-Soil party with Van
Buren as its leader.
Denied the opportunities for the acquirement of an
education more than rudimentary, he stored his mind by reading and
reflection with the most useful knowledge, and it requires but a few
moments of conversation with him to discover that he is a gentleman of
more than ordinary intelligence and experience. Indeed we have
rarely met with one so thoroughly conversant with our political history
and with the lives of the prominent actors in it.
He is, moreover, a man of unyielding integrity and honor.
To a high standard of conduct he holds himself and every one
accountable. Exemplifying the cardinal virtues of veracity,
honesty, and industry in his own life, he cannot with patience regard
the lack of it in the conduct of others. His large fortune is the
direct and natural result of unceasing diligence and truthfulness
combined with a sound judgment.
Mrs. Rice removed to Painesville in the spring
of 1871, and purchased his present elegant residence.
Source: 1798 - History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia: Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 226 |
.
|
